Meek Mill speaks on Starbucks arrest of two Black men and why it bothered him
It’s been hard for Meek Mill to appreciate the sweet taste of freedom, and the rapper, who was recently released from prison on bail, opened up about why he still fears he’ll get thrown back in jail, reports NBC.
“I’m still not a free man,” the Philadelphia native said Thursday. “I’m nervous everyday being on probation.”
Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, is ready to tell his story and recently landed an Amazon documentary deal that will offer an inside look into the depth of his troubles with the criminal justice system.
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He plans to continue to advocated for criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania and was able to talk with Gov. Tom Wolf.
During his first press conference since being released, Mill called for the state House of Representatives to pass a number of bills that will turn the tide and reduce sentencing for nonviolent offenders. He’s become a voice and an advocate for people who become trapped in a perpetual cycle of imprisonment by a flawed prison system.
“You’re committed to helping us institute reforms to the system, Wolf said to Mill. “I am proud to call you a partner in this effort.”
Mill was convicted in 2008 on drug and gun charges and served eight months on those charges. But the issue is current issues are a result of his probation getting extended several times for technical violations. Most recently he landed in jail because he popped a wheelie without a helmet and a for a fight in an airport. Bit charges were dismissed. However, the judge Genece Brinkley still sentenced him to serve two to four years for a technical violation of probation—a heavy-handed amount of time that many said did not fit the crime.
That arrest sparked a national rallying cry for criminal justice reform with artist like Jay-Z and Rick Ross taking up the cause to free Meek Mill.
The Philadelphia district attorney’s office even agreed that initial charge in 2008 should have been dismissed since the arresting officer was known to have a corrupt history and was on a list of law enforcement officials identified with a history of framing people and lying in court.
Sunday, on his birthday, an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt for a “Dateline” special will air.
“Excuse me if I’m a little nervous,” he during the interview.
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Still shook by his imprisonment, he said he watched the Starbucks situation with the two black men who were arrested and it bothered him.
“If that was me in Starbucks on probation, I would have actually been found in technical violation,” he said.
There are “a lot of voiceless men and people I personally know, being in prison, sitting next to them every day, who are depending on me,” Mill said. “And I feel like God has given me a great platform to help many others and make Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the world a better place.”
